The Stage Door, Waterloo, SE1

Dating back to 1823 as the Halfway House, rebuilt sometime later and renamed thus due its location behind the Old Vic. It’s a modernised interior, the colour scheme being best described as at least 50 shades of grey, with mixed furniture, planking nailed to parts of the walls, modern boarded floor, a modern bar back with spotlights, the front being field panelled and probably original, with lighting coming from caged filament bulbs strung by their crisscrossed flexes, like a cat’s cradle arcing across the ceiling. Customers seemed to be mainly young and virtually all appeared dressed for sports; had an urban ramble just arrived? I’m not sure if there’s music, but a strange, repetitive and indeterminate throbbing sound pervaded the room throughout my brief – though not brief enough – stay. The pub’s homepage shows six pumps. Six pumps my dimpled arse – there was one unused pump, then just Doom and Tribute at a reasonable £2.45 a half and fine. This isn’t a great place; why would anyone come here with the White Hart up the road? I’m in no hurry to come back.

Much as described below, only grubbier.  The barman was unwelcoming bordering on obnoxious, while some of  the drunken customers were just unpleasant.  The racket coming from the jukebox was foul. Ales on were Doombar, Tribute, Sea Fury and Long Blonde.  I only tried the Long Blonde as the prices were excessively high for the area.  The beer was in average condition, certainly not worth coming back for at those prices.  Food was mostly junk food, plus pizzas and some nice-looking sausage rolls. Exit stage left, do not return. 

Official site of The Stage Door - www.thestagedoor.co.uk

Official site of The Stage Door - www.thestagedoor.co.uk

Corner pub, opened out at some stage to leave a 'L'-shaped bar with seating in both arms. Mixed furniture and limited - mostly sports-related - decor. Wandle, two from St Austell - Tribute and Trelawney (£4.40), Purity Mad Goose and Addlestone's cider from two banks of six handpumps.

Unremarkable basic pub. I thought the staff were surly and offish. Does anyone know what this was called before?

Although I wasn't bowled over by this place I'd consider a second visit to try it again. 4 ale pumps, 1 clip turned round, the others were Pride, Landlord and Adnams Broadside. I plumped for Landlord and was once again unimpressed by this pedestrian ale that baffles me in its popularity. Lager drinkers are better catered for - Amstel, Heineken, Becks, Kronenburg and Fosters all available. I thought the lighting in this place was spot on, provided by some low-hanging bulbs which was a nice decorate touch. I rather stumbled across this place killing time before catching a train and in that sense can't see myself being a regular visitor.